In the circumstances, Rovers’ 2-1 win over Walsall at The Mem yesterday afternoon was a superb result.

Down to 10 men after an hour and completely on the back foot with the game at 1-1, Rovers demonstrated a superb backs-to-the-wall defensive job to help Andre Alexis Jr keep a clean sheet on his senior debut — before Ollie Clarke netted a stunning late winner against the run of play.

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It secured an unlikely three points for Rovers against a Walsall side that hadn’t lost in the league since the opening day.

Post reporter Nathan Bees rounds up the key talking points and picks out a few things you may have missed from a pulsating game.

Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke walks out ahead of their game with Walsall

Lights, camera, action!

It’s only September and yet the floodlights were in use at The Mem right from the start of the game!

There was a mixture of tropical sunshine and heavy showers around north Bristol before, during and after the game, so it was deemed sensible to have the floodlights on throughout to ensure everyone could see the full length of the pitch at all times.

Sensible, but utterly depressing as it means autumn is coming!

Ollie Clarke of Bristol Rovers scores a bicycle kick to make it 2-1

The goals

I couldn’t not mention just how good I thought Rovers’ two goals were.

Rory Gaffney’s opener was a masterpiece in how to finish when through on goal. The Irishman ran on to the ball after Walsall defender Jon Guthrie slipped underneath a lofted Chris Lines pass, and calmly lifted the ball over Mark Gillespie for 1-0. It was a thing of beauty from the forward.

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Ollie Clarke’s goal was stunning for altogether different reasons. His close-range finish, against the run of play, took the roof off at The Mem and led to glorious celebrations all around the ground. Rovers were defending virtually non-stop yet found a winner from nowhere — and it tasted oh so sweet.

Sam Slocombe of Bristol Rovers gets a red card

Red card

The Sam Slocombe sending off received a mixed reaction all around the ground. Some thought it was a stone-wall red card while others thought that, on first viewing, it looked a little harsh.

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Either way, referee John Brooks made the decision and Rovers were down to 10 men. Darrell Clarke now has something of a goalkeeping dilemma with both his senior shot-stoppers out of action through a combination of injury and suspension.

One young man has staked his claim for the number one jersey in the interim, though…

Alexis Andre of Bristol Rovers

Debut delight

What an introduction to senior English football for 20 year-old Frenchman Andre Alexis Jr.

Thrust into the action after 60 minutes in a game where the visitors were well on top and had a one-man advantage, everyone feared for the youngster on his first team debut.

But Gasheads needn’t have worried. The keeper pulled off some vital saves from close and long range strikes, and you could see with each stop he made that his confidence levels were increasing. He was a bit jumpy initially as you would expect, but overall he was totally assured in everything he did before the referee signalled for full time.

He came away from the game with a memorable personal clean sheet, a glorious three points and an adoring set of supporters. The way Gasheads sung his name at full time will no doubt live long in his memory.

Welcome to Rovers, Andre!

Bristol Rovers fans against Walsall

The support

I touch on it most weeks, but the atmosphere inside The Mem was electric in that crazy second half.

Feeling a sense of injustice after the red card and the referee’s favouring of the visitors with other decisions, they got right behind their team and offered non-stop vocal support.

The noise when Clarke scored the winner and the subsequent reaction at the full time whistle was mental — it was just pure joy.

The ovation each and every player received as they marched off at full time, heads held high, was great to see and underlined the connection that exists between those off the pitch and those on it.